This G3 3yo fillies only over 1200m drew a tidy field and saw a fresh up Aretha take full advantage of a good gate and an incredibly biased presented Hastings racetrack to win by a nostril flare. The track presented today at Hastings was the most on pace and inside lanes biased ever seen and the fact it comes on a G1 day (they only have three G1 racedays on this track a season) is the most galling and unacceptable thing. It should not happen but keeps happening on G1 racedays in New Zealand for some surely easy to fix and stop reason, and it unforgivable and damaging to the credibility of the sport and more so the race results worth. The winners and where they turned for home in race order were led (one-off the inside and half a length ahead), second (one-off the inside and half a length from the leader), led (on the rail and half a length ahead), co-leader (one-off the inside), second (one-off the inside and a length from the leader), led (on the rail and one length ahead), fifth (four-off the inside and two lengths from the leader), third (five-off the inside and a length and a half from the leader) and third (on the rail and two and a half lengths from the leader). Nine races today saw four leaders turning for home win and all on the rail or no worse than one-off the rail, two runners turned in second (both one-off the rail) and two runners turned in third (one of them was on the rail in the trail). Eight of nine winners turned for home first, second or third and the only other winner turned in fifth and five-off the inside but just two lengths from the leader. The race times were tepid in some races and fast in others, so the argument about sectionals and being race pace dependent is totally moot as the manmade bias presented was the overwhelming factor. Aretha led up on the rail and kicked away at the 300m then after being a neck in front at the 100m looking certain to be beaten she won the bob on the line. She won officially by a nose in 1:10.55 (three lengths inferior), a time that compared well to the Open Handicap winner the race following in 1:10.06. It was her second win in five starts and the G3 today goes with a G2 win as a juvenile. She is yet to be out of the top three so is a very genuine filly and this is backed up by the fact all her five starts have come at Group level. Bavella was the run of the day when second considering the manmade track bias in play, after she was last away then moved up and sat sixth wide in the open working thereafter. She reached fifth and wide turning for home then unleashed impressively to be second at the 200m and only a neck away at the 100m then looked sure to win but lost the bob on the line. The best filly in New Zealand has been racing in Australia this Spring namely Probabeel and the same owners races this one Bavella, which looks the G1 2000 Guineas winner in the second week of November at this stage. Loire ran on strongly for third and was beaten just over half a length so she is a filly force this season already when the first G1 comes up at the mile. She ran prior a good third to the star male 3yo at the moment in Catalyst flanking the form worth of that runner and race as being much stronger than its Listed status shows. Loire got back and wide so to find the line as she did speaks volumes of her scope as she beat the manmade track that was on display today too. Jennifer Eccles is one of those fillies that seems to find bad luck all the time and after winning here three weeks ago lost the race in the room and then today she ran a super fourth beaten less than three-quarters of a length. Surely her luck will change this season as incredibly she is still a maiden. Hasstobegood fresh up ran on eyecatchingly for fifth beaten just over two lengths after settling down third last. On Show was wide early then went up second the outer before weakening the run home and she may be better ridden quieter and with some cover. Kali the favourite is still looking for room the run home after racing fourth or fifth the outer between runners and then getting held up and held in excruciatingly for bettors. Forget she went around when seventh beaten three lengths as daylight is something she saw none of today. First Rock was a brave seventh after being third wide the whole way so to not drop out was very commendable. The Tailor's Niece at $78 raced handy the inner and only battled to be beaten just under four lengths but her effort may have been flattered by the track bias. Riva Capri settled back on the inner then was worked off near the home turn only to find slammed shut doors ahead and she is as total forgive like Kali was in this race. Appellant settled back and was last on her own across the top and never looked a possibility but was not disgraced and needs a decent barrier draw. Trifolium was handy early then lost her place and never looked a threat thereafter so she needs to be seen again on top of the ground for a more confident and decisive rating. She may be just a wet tracker at this juncture. Ruby Negroni was outclassed and Birdsong was a shocking last so look for her to prove that is wrong and she is not just a wet tracker when seen out next. Birdsong, the stablemate of the winner, had no support of note whereas Aretha had sustained backing and being in the leading stable that is directional gold for bettors. This was a strong and relevant G3 3yo filly race for the rest of this Spring and into the Summer and Autumn. Aretha is professional and has a racing pattern that can counter any track bias while Bavella looks the top lass when Probabeel is out of the country. Loire like the first two home will be a serious player in the G1 2000 Guineas as will Kali and several others. This will be a very good reference for the rest of this season as so many good fillies ran against each other and in varying stages of their campaigns.